Snakebite is the leading Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) in Kitui County, with a total of 1,939 cases reported by victims who sought treatment at health facilities across the vast county in the last three years, 2020 to 2024.
However, the number of snakebites could be higher than the above-mentioned cases owing to the fact that some of the victims do not seek medical attention at public health facilities but opt for private health facilities, while others go for alternative methods of treatment rather than seeking medical services from the public health facilities.
According to medical records at Kitui County Level 4 Hospital, the snakebite envenoming is prevalent primarily in Kitui South, Mwingi North, Mwingi Central, and Kitui East constituencies.
Kala-azar is the second most endemic Neglected Tropical Disease in the County and is mainly prevalent in Mwingi North and Mwingi Central sub-counties.
